He ran his hands over her hips and up along her sides to lift her tunic over her head, then his mouth came down over hers as he tossed the garment aside, leaving his grasping hands free to caress her, arousing her as he stroked her breasts, her stomach, and then around to cup her backside. He lifted her off the furs and pulled her hips against his, grinding the rock-hard bulge in his breeches against her center.
Valeria tamped down her fear and tried not to panic, but she didn’t know what she was supposed to do, or how she was supposed to touch him. All of this was so new to her, the feel of a man’s rough hands on her body, the stirring of desire caused by his touch. Tristan must have sensed her anxiety because he stopped and looked down into her eyes.
“You don’t have to be afraid with me.” He cupped her face in his hand, holding her still while he brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “I won’t hurt you.”
He roamed over her body with his mouth and hands, coaxing the slowly building pleasure from her in waves. Growing adventurous herself, she explored his strong body with her hands, sweeping over his smooth skin and the rippling muscles in his chest, stomach and arms. Then she got more daring and embraced him, pressing her breasts against his chest, the soft hairs brushing her skin as she ran her hands up and down the length of his back. The barrier of his breeches stopped her from exploring further, but he quickly accommodated her by stripping them off.
His mouth found hers once more and his kiss was urgent, his lips firm and devouring. He led her hand between their bodies and down to touch him. Surprised by her own daring, she closed her hand around the hot, steel-hard length standing up from his hips. His shaft pulsed and grew harder and longer in her hand. The blatantly sexual response went far beyond her meager understanding of what was about to happen. Fear made her freeze, made it hard for her to swallow.
Gods, what was he going to do to her?
His hand moved between her legs to stroke the soft folds of flesh at her center, then his fingers delved into her, searching for something, and bringing a quivering cry from her when he found it. He smoothed his finger over her most sensitive spot in slow, lazy circles. Valeria clasped desperately at his shoulders as she tingled beneath his touch and a sweet pleasure spread through her every nerve ending. When he thrust a finger inside her, she sucked in a startled breath. He stroked it through her juices, making her wetter as he brought her to a height of pleasure she’d never known before. She wasn’t sure if she could take anymore. She wanted him to stop, she needed him to keep on going. A helpless whimper escaped her.
He bent his head to her ear. “Do you want me?” His voice was gruff, filled with tension.
“Yes,” Valeria answered, not sure what she was asking for, only knowing that she wanted to be released from this sweet torture, and Tristan was the only one who could do it.
He lowered his body over hers and spread her legs open with his knees so he could push his hard length into her. He was big in size and stretched her to the point of pain as he slid deeper. She curled her fingers around his arms, digging her nails into the taut muscles. She didn’t think she could take all of him. It was impossible.
“It may hurt at first,” he said, his voice low and husky. “I know of no other way to make the first time any less painful.”
“You’re too big,” she complained, squirming to relieve some of the pressure between her legs. “I want you to stop.”
“No, no stopping,” he said, his eyes burning with determination. “Trust me, little Roman.”
He went deeper and deeper, filling her with his hard thickness, and though there was pain, she still felt a tingling of pleasure and thought she might be able to stand it. Above her, she felt his body tense, his hips drew back, and then he slammed into her with a sharp thrust, planting himself deep. Valeria cried out in shock from the severe swiftness of his burning entry into her virgin passage and dug her nails harder into his skin.
“The worst of it is over.” His rich, sensual voice calmed her as he paused briefly. He smoothed her hair back from her face and wiped at her tears with his thumb.
When he did begin to move, it was with slow, gentle thrusts reaching deeper inside her. A myriad of sensations racked her body. Pain. Pleasure. Ecstasy. Fear. She couldn’t focus on just one as he stroked back and forth. He kissed her as he moved within her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth as he thrust himself between her thighs, and she thought she would die from the rapture of it. The stretching pain faded once she allowed herself to relax into his rhythm, and soon the pain was replaced by a growing, aching need that started deep inside and spread out to the rest of her body, sending the most satisfying sensations rippling through her.
Those feelings increased as did the pace of his movements, and she brought her arms around his waist and held to him. She moved her hips with his, seeking to obtain some glorious finish she didn’t yet understand, but wanted to reach. The closer she came to attaining it, the less she was able to quiet her cries of passion. She dared to look up at Tristan as he moved over her and saw how his brows were drawn in severe concentration, how his jaw was clenched tight and his head thrown back. He bucked harder, faster, steadily driving himself into her until she finally reached her highest peak and something inside her burst, flooding her with the most exquisite splendor. Bliss, sharp and hot, lanced through her veins, and above her, he gave a final, deep thrust, his body shuddering from his own pleasure, his hard shaft pulsing inside her.
Valeria didn’t want to move, didn’t want to do anything but feel what magic this man had worked with her body. They both breathed heavily as they lay locked in each other’s arms. The sharp edges of bliss began to fade and the racing of her heart slowed. Not once had she imagined her journey into the north would lead to this. Tristan had awakened a secret passion in her that she never knew existed, and because of him, she would never be the same.
Chapter Six
Morning dawned as it inevitably must, and Tristan couldn’t stop touching Valeria. Her hot, tight body clasped him as he drove himself harder and deeper into her. He was now familiar with every inch of her and knew she could take him like this, rough and wild. She’d discovered her own hidden passions through the long night they’d shared as well.
Her soft little moans and cries of pleasure excited him and he bucked his hips faster, thrusting powerfully into her body again and again until she clung to him, grasping at his shoulders and crying out as she reached a shuddering climax. Tristan came hard and long, the muscles in his body trembling as the most intense, unbelievable pleasure exploded from him. Giving a hoarse, strangled shout, he released himself deep inside her.
He held himself suspended above her, his arms trembling, feeling like they’d give out at any moment. He collapsed back on the bed, out of breath. “What have you done to me, little Roman?”
He pulled Valeria to him and held her tightly. It was strange how right she felt in his arms. She nestled into the crook of his arm and rested her head on his chest.
“Are all men as enthusiastic as you?”
Tristan frowned. He’d always had a healthy appetite when it came to women, but nothing like this want, this desire, this need for Valeria. As soon as he finished taking her, his body started the slow build all over again, like it couldn’t stand to remain separated from her. He’d spent the entire night easing his lust between her legs and didn’t feel he’d ever be satisfied.
“Not all men,” he teased. “I’m different, remember?”
Valeria traced her finger in little circles over his chest. “It could be you’ve simply been without a woman for so long you had to get your fill before tossing me in with the other prisoners.”
Tristan cringed with guilt. Both he and Valeria knew their night together could go no further. There was no future for them, a Pict and a Roman. They found themselves in an unusual situation, and given they were attracted to each other, they were simply making the best of their time. That’s what he’d told her as he made love to her all night, and she’d agreed